The Caribbean Examinations Council
From Paper to Digital
Launched
October 2018
Sector
Testing
Partner
CXC
Examination Records
The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) is the premier provider of globally competitive curriculum development services, examinations, certification and education services. The CXC has a comprehensive suite of qualifications to meet the educational and workforce development needs of the Caribbean region – across 16 participating countries.
The CXC, like many accrediting institutions, largely relied on a paper-based system to issue exam results and certificates to qualified candidates. In an effort to increase security and convenience, CXC committed to moving from paper to an “E-everything” digital ecosystem. Blockcerts, the most widely-adopted global open standard for blockchain credentials, was selected for the following reasons:
- To provide a highly secure credential mobile app that stores, shares, and verifies evidence of candidates’ achievement in CXC examinations.
- To reduce fees for current and future candidates to receive their digital records, and for users of Blockcerts to authenticate a candidate’s record.
- To prevent the loss of official records in the event of relocation and natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, all hazards that affect the Caribbean periodically.
In August 2018, the CXC initiated a 12-month initiative using the Learning Machine Issuing System to issue Blockcerts to candidates with advanced proficiency and secondary education exam results in the 2018-2019 Academic Year.
The first issuance took place on October 2018, when the CXC invited candidates from Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago to receive their advanced proficiency examinations (CAPE®) in this new digital format. In November 2018, the CXC expanded this offering to all 16 territories and invited
“CXC is extremely excited about this latest development as we transition several of our processes to electronic workflows. Our candidates as well as users of the certificates, that is, employers, colleges and universities will find Blockcerts very convenient to use.”
Mr. Glenroy Cumberbatch
CXC Registrar
A Look Ahead
Over the next two years, the CXC seeks to expand Blockcerts issuance across the CXC’s entire exam catalog to prepare potential employees with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for the world of work. This includes the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ); a qualification awarded to candidates who demonstrate competence in attaining occupational standards developed by practitioners, industry experts, and employers. This CARICOM-approved qualification is recognized by employers across the Caribbean region.
